Peter "Pete" D. Rios

Biographical Information

The following is from ALIS for the 48th Arizona State Legislature, 2nd Regular Session (2008):

Pete Rios  
Democrat  District 23
House of Representatives
1700 W. Washington
Room 334
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone Number: (602) 926-5761
Fax Number: (602) 417-3023
Email Address: [email protected]
Home City: Hayden, AZ
Occupation: Child and Family Counselor
Member Since: 1983-1994 -- Now since 1997

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Representative Pete Rios
Arizona House of Representatives

Pete Rios, at age 58, has been a legislator for 24 years.  He is currently serving his second term in the Arizona House of Representatives, and is a member of the Appropriations, Higher Education, and Sub-Appropriations: Transportation and Criminal Justice standing committees.  Representative Rios also serves on the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, Joint Legislative Budget Committee, Joint Legislative Committee on DES Block Grants, Joint Select Committee on Corrections, and Joint Ad Hoc Task Force on Higher Education Reform.  A native of Arizona, Rios grew up in the state’s rich copper mining area of Hayden-Winkelman.  He was one of 14 children.  He worked his way through college while supporting his family and earned his B.A. in Sociology and his Masters degree in Social Service Administration from Arizona State University.

Professionally, Rios has worked in a variety of social services settings with particular emphasis on services to children and families.  From 1978 to 1980, he was Children’s Adoption Coordinator for the State of Arizona and from 1981 to 1982, he served as Social Services Assistant Program Manager.  As a small businessman, Rios owned and operated Tia Maria’s Grocery and Grill from 1982 to 1988.  He was first elected to the Arizona State Senate in 1982 and has held the positions of Democratic Whip and Democratic Assistant Leader.

In 1991, he was elected presiding officer as President of the Arizona State Senate for the 40th Legislature, making him the first Latino Senate President in the history of the state.

Currently Representative Rios is also employed as a juvenile and family counselor, mostly working with teenagers on probation with the Juvenile Court.

Rios is married and has three children.  His oldest daughter, Rebecca, is currently serving as an Arizona State Senator and also represents District 23.  The Rios’ are the only father/daughter legislative team in the history of the State of Arizona.

Education

Master Arts: Social Service Administration, Arizona State University, 1976

Bachelor Arts: Sociology, Arizona State University, 1973

Additional Information

In 1991, he was elected presiding officer as President of the Arizona State Senate for the 40th Legislature, making him the first Latino Senate President in the history of the state. (ALIS 48-2R (2008) bio)

LEGISLATIVE FAMILY (Yellow Sheet Report (Arizona Capitol Times), May 25, 2011):  father of Sen. Rebecca Rios

Employment

Arizona Legislative Service

Sources

Birth: Arizona Legislative Biography sheet "Peter Rios", middle initial:  Ancestry U.S. Public Record Index; Occupation(s):  ALIS 48-2R (2008) bio and Project VoteSmart

Education: 2008 Guide to the Legislature (Greenbook)